Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/risk_assessment_of_the_london_cy?utm_campaign=alaveteli-experiments-87&utm_content=sidebar_similar_requests&utm_medium=link&utm_source=whatdotheyknow on February 18, 2018 05:22

Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 23
October. You have asked for information about all the risk assessments
that TfL has carried out, or commissioned, relating to the London Cycle
Hire Scheme (LCHS).

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of
Information (FOI) Act.

There have been a wide range of studies and risk assessments that have
taken place, or are due to take place, across many different areas of the
LCHS. Therefore, to enable us to provide the precise information you are
interested in, please could you be more specific based on the information
we hold:

Feasibility Study
In the published feasibility study for the LCHS, point 31 looks at the
Benefits and Risks of a cycle hire scheme in central London. Section 4.2
contains Risks and Mitigations, considering factors and responding to each
aspect. A copy of the feasibility study is available on our website at
[1]http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/....

Road Safety Audits
Road Safety Audits are ongoing for each of the 400 proposed sites and
recommendations are being reviewed. Please note: it is highly likely that
to provide all of these audits would exceed the FOI cost limit in dealing
with requests (£450) and therefore we may have to refuse such a request.

Commercial, Procurement and Project Risk
Assessments have been carried out as part of the procurement process
leading to a contract being awarded to Serco, the LCHS service provider.
Project Risk registers are in place as part of the project management
system. Please note, however, that these are likely to be considered
commercially sensitive and therefore may be exempt from disclosure if
requested.

Crime and Disorder
A crime and disorder assessment has been undertaken by TfL's Crime &
Disorder Partnership Unit. This is based on TfL's obligations under
section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to ensure that all policies,
strategies and activities contribute to reducing crime and disorder.

Construction Design Management (CDM)
Construction Site specific risk assessments will be undertaken once all
checks and permits with the London boroughs involved in the scheme have
been agreed and signed off. Other assessments/activities are also underway
in the areas of Construction Design Management (CDM) site surveys, crime
and disorder considerations and health and safety planning to maximise
cycle user safety.

Health and Safety Planning
Key areas of Health and Safety planning of risk assessments are taking
place in conjunction with Serco, the LCHS Service Provider.

Please note that we will not be taking further action until we receive
your revised request.

In the meantime, if you have any queries or would like to discuss your
request, please contact Gilmore Barrett, Correspondence Support Manager
– London Streets, at [2][email address].

If you are not satisfied with this response, please read the attached
help-sheet entitled ‘Your Right to Appeal’.

Yours sincerely

Patricia Mitchell

Head of Customer Services

Surface Transport Communications & Engagement

Transport for London

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Thank you for your reply in which you invite me to clarify my request.

I am interested in whether any assessment has been carried out into the potential number and type of collisions involving LCHS cycles and the potential injuries and deaths to users of LCHS cycles and other road users involved in such collisions.

I am also interested in what assessment has been made of the legal liability considerations that exist as a consequence of these risks, both to TfL and to Serco.

I am also interested in what assessment has been made of the possibility that poorly maintained cycles in the LCHS may be a contributory factor to any collision, injury and/or death and what are the legal liability considerations here.

Thank you for your request for information dated 18/18/09 which was
received by Transport for London on 18/18/09. This request will be dealt
with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We will aim to deal with your request promptly and provide you with a
response by 17/12/09.

If you are unhappy with the response you receive, you may wish to use our
complaints procedure by writing to Beverley Hall, Head of Customer
Services & Consultation, at the address above, stating your concerns.

In the meantime, if you have any queries or would like to discuss your
request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Gilomore Barrett

Correspondence Support Manager (Streets)

London Streets Customer Services

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{ticketno:[502275]}
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Thank you for your reply in which you invite me to clarify my
request.

I am interested in whether any assessment has been carried out into
the potential number and type of collisions involving LCHS cycles
and the potential injuries and deaths to users of LCHS cycles and
other road users involved in such collisions.

I am also interested in what assessment has been made of the legal
liability considerations thatexist as a consequence of these
risks, both to TfL and to Serco.

I am also interested in what assessment has been made of the
possibility that poorly maintained cycles in the LCHS may be a
contributory factor to any collision, injury and/or death and what
are the legal liability considerations here.

1 Attachment

Thank you for your further email received by Transport for London (TfL) on
18 November 2009. You have clarified your request for information about
the risk assessments for the London Cycle Hire scheme (LCHS).

You have asked ‘whether any assessment has been carried out into the
potential number and type of collisions involving LCHS cycles, and the
potential injuries and deaths to users of LCHS cycles and other road users
involved in such collisions.’

Assessments of potential collisions are based on overseas studies and
these were published in the Feasibility Study for a Central London Cycle
Hire scheme.

LCHS addresses the concerns that the introduction of the scheme in Central
London may cause an increase in the accident rate for cyclists. The
introduction of schemes elsewhere has not had this effect. In Lyon, for
example, whilst cycling levels have more than doubled, the number of
recorded accidents has increased only marginally. This corresponds to a
significant reduction in the accident rate. Chart 4.2.1 (in section 4.2.3)
shows that the accident rate in Paris has reduced by approximately 18 per
cent since the introduction of Vélib’. This is broken down further in
chart 4.2.2 which shows how the number of accidents of different types has
varied. It shows that the vast majority of the increase in accidents is
made up of slight injuries. All evidence suggests, however, that by
increasing the number of cyclists on London’s streets the accident rate
will go down (critical mass effect). An examination of the trend in
accident rates in London over the last five years shows that as the number
of cycling trips has increased the accident rate has decreased.

You also wanted to know what assessment has been made of the legal
liability considerations that exist as a consequence of these risks, to
TfL and to Serco, and what assessment has been made of the possibility
that poorly maintained cycles in the LCHS may contribute to any collision,
injury or death and what are the legal liability considerations here.

The factors contributing to collision have been included and form a wider
remit for TfL to continue improving conditions for cyclists. For the LCHS,
the risk is addressed through guidance and information to the user, terms
and conditions for the user combined with traffic, accident data and
service records. The legal liabilities have been considered for the range
of risks including equipment failure, equipment quality, design, user
behaviour and traffic hazards, and are reflected throughout the contract.

The risk of liability as a result of equipment failure was considered as
part of the contract requirements and resulted in writing the contractual
Repair and Maintenance Schedule with the intention of the contractor
taking the responsibility for maintenance of the cycles and the associated
liabilities. As part of the terms and conditions for users, there is a
requirement to check for obvious equipment defects. Audits and monitoring
of the performance of Serco will take place.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable
to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact Gilmore
Barrett, Correspondence Support Manager – London Streets, at
[email address].

If you are not satisfied with this response, please read the attached
help-sheet entitled ‘Your Right to Appeal’.

Patricia Mitchell

Head of Customer Services

Transport for London

Surface Transport Communications & Engagement

DO NOT DELETE.............................
{ticketno:[502275]}
DO NOT DELETE.............................

Thank you for your reply in which you invite me to clarify my
request.

I am interested in whether any assessment has been carried out into
the potential number and type of collisions involving LCHS cycles
and the potential injuries and deaths to users of LCHS cycles and
other road users involved in such collisions.

I am also interested in what assessment has been made of the legal
liability considerations thatexist as a consequence of these
risks, both to TfL and to Serco.

I am also interested in what assessment has been made of the
possibility that poorly maintained cycles in the LCHS may be a
contributory factor to any collision, injury and/or death and what
are the legal liability considerations here.